Chemical Industry Seeks Partners for R&D on Utility Systems, Heat Exchangers, Distillation Systems, and Natural Gas Solutions

October 18, 2005

The Chemical Industry Vision2020 Technology Partnership (Vision2020) and the Council for Chemical Research (CCR) will hold the third Workshop to Identify Research Collaborations on December 7, 2005, in Baltimore, Md. Technical experts and R&D managers are invited to join this unique one-day workshop to explore and develop new R&D partnerships. Participants will submit one-page proposals in advance and identify potential R&D partners at the workshop. Representatives of the U.S. Department of Energy's Industrial Technologies Program and the National Energy Technology Laboratory will explain cost-shared opportunities for federal funds.

Vision2020 and CCR are sponsoring this event to bring together potential partners from academia, government, and private industry. "Companies will find partners with complementary expertise to meet real needs without disclosing proprietary details," said Jack Solomon, chair of Vision2020. "Our goal is to secure funding and research partners for innovative research that can deliver economic benefits," he explained.

Prior to the workshop, participants are asked to submit brief proposals for R&D collaboration on the following topics:

Increased efficiency of natural gas use in industrial processes
Alternatives to natural gas in industrial processes
Energy recovery to reduce natural gas consumption
Innovative energy systems to reduce energy losses upstream of chemical processing
New technology to reduce the energy load of distillation systems
New materials for retrofit of heat exchangers in distillation columns and furnaces

At the workshop, researchers will present their proposals, and participants will choose the presenters with whom they would like to explore collaboration opportunities. Starting today, you can register for the workshop, submit proposals, and read proposals submitted by others. To register, visit our website at www.chemicalvision2020.org/collaborationDec2005.html.

R&D collaboration helps to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the U.S. chemical industry. Vision2020's goal is to accelerate innovation and technology development by leveraging financial and technical resources. CCR's mission is to advance research in chemistry, chemical engineering, and related disciplines through leadership collaboration across discipline, institution, and sector boundaries.

NEWS MEDIA CONTACT

Jack Solomon, Vision2020 Chairman
914-309-3904

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October 18, 2005